Opinion > Star Staff
Frisco's 5Ks are fun for all
By Anthony Tosie, atosie@starlocalnews.com
Frisco's home to many sports-related activities, such as RoughRiders and FC Dallas games. One of the more unique activities Frisco offers is its regular 5Ks.
While 5Ks themselves aren't unique, the fact that a city as large as Frisco regularly hosts the road races is. On Saturday, I took part in the seventh annual Frosty 5K and Miracle Mile, the most recent of several 5Ks that have been hosted in Frisco Square throughout the year.
I've been a runner for the majority of my life, having participated in track in both high school and college, but the beauty of 5Ks is they're something anyone can have fun in, regardless of athletic ability.
Distance running certainly isn't my forte -- although I was conscripted against my will to run a couple of 8-mile cross country races in college when another runner was injured -- but it can still be enjoyable.
That was the case Saturday, when 1,168 participants came from across North Texas to take part in what's quickly become a routine occurrence at Frisco Square.
Like most 5Ks, the event had an eclectic mix of participants, from parents pushing strollers to high school cross country runners looking to stay in shape. The event's Miracle Mile also saw a number of younger participants as well.
Event organizers made sure to include everything necessary to make running the race a pleasure for contestants. There was a race-day registration tent that made signups quick and easy, water at the finish, and mile markers. It was especially great to see that last item, as it's never fun to run a 5K without knowing where you are in the event to know if you're on a good pace -- something many race organizers forget about.
The other great thing about Frisco's 5Ks is they're just the right size to enjoy. They're small enough that you can run a decent time, but they're also big enough that you can mingle with plenty of people and have a good time.
There were a total of 1,168 participants in the Frosty 5K this year -- that size made it easy to quickly move to the front of the pack without having to worry about getting stuck behind other runners.
Unlike many large cities in the area, Frisco officials haven't forgotten the importance of physical activity and keeping residents healthy. Hopefully Frisco residents appreciate the efforts the city is going to, because it's something that's certainly not common.
While 5Ks themselves aren't unique, the fact that a city as large as Frisco regularly hosts the road races is. On Saturday, I took part in the seventh annual Frosty 5K and Miracle Mile, the most recent of several 5Ks that have been hosted in Frisco Square throughout the year.
I've been a runner for the majority of my life, having participated in track in both high school and college, but the beauty of 5Ks is they're something anyone can have fun in, regardless of athletic ability.
Distance running certainly isn't my forte -- although I was conscripted against my will to run a couple of 8-mile cross country races in college when another runner was injured -- but it can still be enjoyable.
That was the case Saturday, when 1,168 participants came from across North Texas to take part in what's quickly become a routine occurrence at Frisco Square.
Like most 5Ks, the event had an eclectic mix of participants, from parents pushing strollers to high school cross country runners looking to stay in shape. The event's Miracle Mile also saw a number of younger participants as well.
Event organizers made sure to include everything necessary to make running the race a pleasure for contestants. There was a race-day registration tent that made signups quick and easy, water at the finish, and mile markers. It was especially great to see that last item, as it's never fun to run a 5K without knowing where you are in the event to know if you're on a good pace -- something many race organizers forget about.
The other great thing about Frisco's 5Ks is they're just the right size to enjoy. They're small enough that you can run a decent time, but they're also big enough that you can mingle with plenty of people and have a good time.
There were a total of 1,168 participants in the Frosty 5K this year -- that size made it easy to quickly move to the front of the pack without having to worry about getting stuck behind other runners.
Unlike many large cities in the area, Frisco officials haven't forgotten the importance of physical activity and keeping residents healthy. Hopefully Frisco residents appreciate the efforts the city is going to, because it's something that's certainly not common.
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